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Southdown mental health services

Alongside the UOK Wellbeing Service, Southdown provides specialist mental health services as well as employment support for people who meet specific eligibility criteria.

These services offer tailored support with mental health and work, including help to build confidence, overcome barriers, and find or keep a role that suits you.

Visit the individual service section using the buttons above or by scrolling down the page to find out who the service is for and how to access it.
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Service type
Service location
Learning and recovery

Brighton & Hove Recovery College

Brighton & Hove
Free courses and workshops that help people understand their mental health, develop self-management skills, build confidence, and connect with others.

Courses are designed and delivered by people with lived experience alongside clinical staff and other professionals. The College welcomes adults living in Brighton & Hove who have mental health support needs. Carers and people working in mental health services can also attend.

  • Location: Brighton & Hove

  • Access: Enrolment opens for each college term

Explore Brighton & Hove Recovery College
Employment support

Connect to Work

East Sussex
Personalised employment support for adults in East Sussex who face barriers to finding or keeping work, including people experiencing mental health challenges or other complex circumstances.

Support is shaped around your goals and may include building confidence, preparing for work, finding suitable opportunities, and receiving help after you start a job.

Eligibility requirements apply.

  • Location: East Sussex

  • Access: Expression of interest and eligibility check

Explore Connect to Work
Wellbeing support

Emotional Wellbeing Service

Brighton & Hove
East Sussex
Short-term, personalised support available through participating GP surgeries in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.

Mental Health Support Coordinators can help you explore what is affecting your wellbeing, develop coping strategies, work towards personal goals, and connect with suitable community support.

  • Location: Brighton & Hove and East Sussex

  • Access: Referral through your GP surgery

Find out about the Emotional Wellbeing Service
Crisis support

Staying Well

Brighton & Hove
East Sussex
Walk-in, out-of-hours support for adults who are experiencing mental distress, feel unable to cope, or need help during a mental health crisis.

Staying Well provides a safe and welcoming place where you can talk to someone without judgement. Support is available in Brighton, Eastbourne, and St Leonards-on-Sea.

  • Location: Brighton & Hove and East Sussex

  • Access: Walk in without an appointment

Find out about Staying Well
Employment support

Substance Misuse Employment Service

East Sussex
Specialist employment support for adults in East Sussex who are receiving structured treatment for drug or alcohol dependence through Change Grow Live.

Employment Specialists work alongside recovery teams to help people explore their strengths, find suitable paid work, and receive continued support after starting a job.

Speak to your Change Grow Live Recovery Worker about a referral.

  • Location: East Sussex

  • Access: Referral through Change Grow Live

Find out about the Substance Misuse Employment Service
Specialist therapeutic support

The Lighthouse

Brighton & Hove
Specialist therapeutic support for adults in Brighton & Hove who experience complex emotional needs.

The Lighthouse uses group-based therapy, peer involvement, creative activities, and a therapeutic community approach. Support is delivered in partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Mind in Brighton and Hove.

Referrals are made through secondary mental health services.

  • Location: Brighton & Hove

  • Access: Referral through secondary mental health services

Find out about The Lighthouse
Specialist therapeutic support

Thinking Well

East Sussex
Specialist, group-based support for adults with complex emotional needs living in East Sussex.

Thinking Well combines community support, peer support, therapeutic groups, and clinical input. The service is delivered by Southdown in collaboration with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Referrals are made through adult mental health services.

  • Location: East Sussex

  • Access: Referral through adult mental health services

Find out about Thinking Well
Employment support

Work and Wellbeing

Brighton & Hove
East Sussex
West Sussex
One-to-one employment support for adults across Sussex who use mental health services and want to find, return to, or stay in paid work.

An Employment Specialist will work alongside you to understand your strengths, interests, and goals. Support can include job searching, applications, interviews, speaking with employers, and help once you begin work.

Referral routes differ depending on where you live.

  • Location: Across Sussex

  • Access: Referral routes vary by area

Find out about Work and Wellbeing
Employment support

Work in Mind

East Sussex
Employment support for adults living in East Sussex who are using Health in Mind, the local NHS Talking Therapies service.

Support can help you find or keep paid work, explore volunteering or work experience, and consider education, qualifications, or training.

Ask your Health in Mind practitioner or clinician about a referral.

  • Location: East Sussex

  • Access: Referral through Health in Mind

Find out about Work in Mind
How are you really feeling?

Not sure where to start?

You do not need to understand the mental health system or know the name of the service you need before asking for help:

You don’t need to understand the mental health system or know the name of a service before asking for help. The Sussex-wide How Are You Really Feeling? resource helps you explore support based on how you’re feeling and what you need.

It has been co-developed by the NHS, voluntary and community organisations—including Southdown—local authorities, primary care and people with lived experience.

How are you really feeling?